Var Controversy: Reason why Celtic F.C. was awarded a penalty kick during the Celtic vs. Hearts match

Steven Naismith, the manager of Hearts, wasn’t happy with the use of VAR during the game because he thought Celtic shouldn’t have been given the penalty that let Engels score.

It was clear that James Penrice touched the ball in the box. Still, Naismith said it was like something that happened before with Liam Scales, even though the ball hit the Celtic defender above the “t-shirt line” that time. In both cases, the officials made the right call in the end after camera reviews showed that the first decisions made on the field were wrong.

Once the manager of the Tynecastle team told the media how he felt, Brendan Rodgers, the manager of Celtic, told everyone what he thought about the two events and was completely right.

Brendan Rodgers on Celtic’s last-second penalties against Hearts
“Steven finds it hard because he knows how important the first goal is to the game,” he told the press [Celtic Way]. Hearts will have something to hold on to if it goes to them. Things will be different in the game if it goes to us.

“It’s pretty clear what the rules are; they were wrestling, and the ball went over and hit him on the sleeve.” Everyone thinks that’s not a punishment, but you want it. That makes sense to me.

For the second episode, too, the law says that if your arms are up and away from the silhouette, you are breaking the law. That’s how it turned out. Some people think it’s unfair if you don’t get it and the other team does, but I thought the judge and officials did a great job in those two games.

“I thought the referees would look at it.” There’s no link between them; the judge made good calls. It has been looked at by VAR. It doesn’t mean the other team doesn’t get one just because one doesn’t. The law said that one was a punishment and the other wasn’t.

“That’s why VAR exists.” I believe he made his choice because it was quick. He thinks it’s a handball when the arm is out. That’s why we have VAR: the guys in the studio will look at it and say, “Not quite.” In the same way that our goal was thrown out, that was a great call. It was barely offside, but it was still offside. I believed the officials did a great job.

VAR did what it was meant to do.
A lot of people have said bad things about how Scottish judges have used technology, but it doesn’t matter what you think as long as they follow the rules.

That’s how VAR should have worked in those situations. Yes, it’s too bad that the judge got both calls wrong at first on the field, but he admitted it during reviews from the sidelines.

Without a question, Celtic deserved to win their Scottish Premiership game against Hearts on Saturday.

Arne Engels and Luke McCowan scored goals to give the Bhoys a 2-0 win. This was their sixth straight win to start the 2024–25 season.